NYIFF brings independent, art house films from Indian subcontinent to NY audience

independent, art house and diaspora films from the Indian subcontinent are being celebrated as part of the 19th edition of the New York Indian Film Festival, which is set to screen the works of filmmakers such as Gurinder Chadha and Ritesh Batra.

The New York Indian Film Festival (NYIFF), presented by leading cultural organisation Indo-American Arts Council (IAAC) and supported by the Consulate General of India in New York, began Tuesday with the screening of Rohena Gera-directed "Sir", starring Tillotama Shome and Vivek Gomber.

The screening was attended by Consul General Sandeep Chakravorty, filmmaker Mira Nair and Commissioner of the New York City Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment Anne del Castillo, members of the Indian-American community among others.

Addressing the audience at the opening night of NYIFF through video link, IAAC Chairman Nirmal Mattoo said the festival showcases films that are unique, thought-provoking and highlight the diversity of India.

Nair, whose film "Monsoon Wedding" was the closing night film at the 1st edition of the film festival, said NYIFF is the home of the "most exciting cinema" not just from India but also the region, showcasing movies and documentaries from Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and other nations of the sub-continent.

She said she is "happy to be associated with people who choose to express themselves from an alternative space and question what is marginal and question what is alternative and I think of this place, not just the festival but also this city, as a home for that."
Addressing the audience at the festival, Castillo said that since its inception, the film festival has introduced new filmmakers that offer rich and nuanced stories from India, underlining the "values of inclusion that we hold in high regard at the Mayor's office."